Northern Lights Official Publication of the US Coast Guard Auxiliary, 9 th Eastern Region Division One Robert Ewing Editor, 4th Edition, June, 2009 Division 1 leadership and Staff Officers Division Leadership Robert M. Laurer, Division Commander Wade Love, Division Vice-Commander John Nowicki, Flotilla Commander, 1-1 Steve O Brien, Vice Flotilla Commander, 1-1 Ray Walty, Flotilla Commander, 1-2 G.Hale Smith, Vice Flotilla Commander, 1-2 Jackie Scofield, Flotilla Commander, 1-5 Bob Scofield, Vice Flotilla Commander, 1-5 John Gonzales, Flotilla Commander, 1-6 Fred Stenglein, Vice Flotilla Commander, 1-6 Division Staff Officers Joe Welch, Operations Officer William Hill, Member Training Officer Gary Kocher, Public Education Officer Ralph Bathelt, Marine Safety Officer Gary Kocher, Recreational Boating Safety Officer Robert Scofield, Vessel Examinations Officer Carmella Laurer, Division 1 PS Officer Ray Dobmeier, Information Services Officer Richard Bauer, Personnel Services Officer Ben Shiro, Public Affairs Officer Joe MacMartin, Communication Services Officer Edward Seiber, Finance Officer Robert Ewing, Publications Officer & Coastie Custodian Nancy Rudiger, Immediate Past Division Commander Inside this issue: Awards for the Burg Flotilla Capt. Nancy & Coastie Seaway 50 th Anniversary!000 Island Spring Boat Show Flotilla 01-05 Awards from DCDR 01 Bob Laurer
Spring Conference News At the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary conference in Batavia the Ogdensburg Flotilla was presented with two awards. Seen here (left to right) are Ray Gress Auxiliary 9ER District Commodore, Robert Scofield Flotilla Commander Ogdensburg (2008), Jackie Scofield Flotilla Commander Ogdensburg (2009), Captain Burchell Commander of Coast Guard Sector Buffalo, and Tom Mallison Auxiliary 9WR District Commodore. Robert Scofield was presented with the Flotilla Commander of the year for 2008 and Jackie Scofield accepted the First runner-up award for the Flotilla of the year 2008. Congratulations: Robert Scofield and the Ogdensburg Flotilla Division One and 9ER District are proud of you!
Nancy and Her Good Buddy Coastie One of the benefits of volunteering with the Coast Guard Auxiliary is working with Coastie. He brings joy and smiles to hundreds of school age kids, as well as bring a safe boating message. The Auxiliary work with Coastie is a wonderful experience for everyone involved. Coastie is a tremendous hit in any appearances he makes. Our Flotilla, 01-05, uses Coastie most at schools and our well attended Seaway Festival in the summer. Alexandria Bay uses him at the Clayton Boat Show each year. Younger students often quote him with things such as: Coastie says to always wear your life jacket!" or Never go in the water to help someone. You should do follow, Reach-Throw-Go!" His appearance in Ogdensburg with Bob Scofield, Mike Estes, and Jim Waterson was an excellent way to kick off our 2009 Safe Boating Season. Nancy Rudiger, District Captain, 9ER
50 th ANNIVERSARY On June 26, 2009 the Saint Lawrence Seaway will celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the opening of America s fourth seacoast. On hand at the original opening were Queen Elizabeth II and President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Originally, Seaway construction had been blocked in the United States because the other three sea coasts did not see the need to support additional competition. But because supplies of high grade iron ores, (hematite and magnetite) were being depleted in the Mesabi Iron Range, Steel companies needed an economical way to bring iron ore from the rich iron reserves of Northern Quebec and Labrador. Steel company executives from the United States and Canada lobbied the U.S. House and Senate for construction of the Seaway. According to Wikipedia (2008), in May of 1954 the Wiley-Dondero Act, approving American participation in the construction of the Saint Lawrence Seaway, was signed into law by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. (paragraph 9) The Saint Lawrence Seaway replaced the old lock system which only allowed vessels of limited size and carrying capacity to transit from the Gulf of Saint Lawrence to the Upper Lakes. The old lock system only allowed vessels of 142 feet in length, 26 foot in beam, and 10 feet in draft to make the slow passage up-bound from Montreal. There was only daylight navigation and as related to me by some of the older pilots, ships would tie up to the bank at night and the crews would go ashore to the local pubs. Most Canadian and American flagged Lake Ships carry permanent Master/pilots and Mate/pilots. In other words, permanently employed company captains and mates provide navigation expertise and guidance through the navigation channels and lakes. Foreign vessels are required by international law to employ the services of a registered Seaway Pilot while transiting the Seaway. This Seaway Pilot insures that foreign vessels comply with the laws of the United States and Canada and that navigation of the vessel is accomplished in a safe, precise, and timely manner during the period of time the pilot is on board. The new Seaway brought day and night navigation and stays open 24/7 for the entire length of the seaway season. The dimension of the new Locks was 766 in length, 80 feet in width, and 30 feet deep. This allows vessels of 730 feet in length, 75 feet in beam, and a seaway draft of from 26 to 27 feet, depending on water depths on the navigation channels, to safely proceed. An unusual occurrence happened in 1969, during the period of the Seaway s Tenth Anniversary celebration, the Royal Yacht HMS Britannia, with the Queen and Prince Philip aboard, transited the Seaway on her way up-bound to Toronto. While the Britannia was approaching the 1000 Island Bridge in the American Narrows, a local farmer took the opportunity to fly his J3 Piper Cub under the bridge and buzz the Royal Yacht. It was during the time that the Quebecois party was demonstrating throughout Canada for independence. I understand that military jets were scrambled throughout the area to intercept the intruder. I heard they never did catch the fellow, and he proceeded back to his farm and landed, unaware of his notoriety. Article from the St. Lawrence Seaway Website, forwarded by FC John Gonzales.
Bob Good looking Bob Bob Bob s next boat Division One was out in full force at the 38 th Annual Spring Boat Show in Clayton in April this year. Coastie the Safety Boat was a great big hit there also. Coastie thinks he is a PWC! Coastie and friends
Flotilla 1-5 Ogdensburg. The United States Coast Guard and the Coast Guard Auxiliary met the Mayor of Ogdensburg at the Ogdensburg marina on Saturday May 16 to officially declare the beginning of National Safe Boating Week. Mayor William Nelson read and presented a Proclamation to the group. The significance of National Safe Boating Week is to draw people's attention to the fact that approximately 700 people die each year in boating accidents and that the largest number die from drowning because they do not wear their life jackets. The US Coast Guard from Station Alex Bay stopped in to help kick off the NSB week. In the picture from left to right in the front row is BM2 Michael Gerviss, BM2 Jen McDevitt, Mayor William Nelson, District Commander Nancy Rudiger, Flotilla Commander Jackie Scofield, Staff Officer Robert Simpson--(back row) Sn Rich Donlon and BM3 Steve Perkins. Keith Hamblin new member with FC Jackie Scofield
Robert Simpson best of the Division James Waterson. Team Coastie James McNally Instructor At the monthly flotilla meeting of the Ogdensburg US Coast Guard Auxiliary, Jackie Scofield Flotilla Commander, made several presentations: Keith Hamblin (Ogdensburg) was made an official member of the Auxiliary. James Waterson (Hannawa Falls) received his certificate to operate "Coastie" James McNally (Ogdensburg) received his certificate for teaching over 30 hours of boating safety classes last year. Robert Simpson (Media,Pa) received his certificates for doing over 155 hours of on the water patrols, over 49 hours of boating safety classes and having the most on the water hours last year of anyone in Division one.
Sackets Harbor is a USCG Aux-Op Station, Auxiliarists work directly with the Coast Guard every day. Flotilla 1-2 has 25 members on their current roster, with half of the members being active participants from various walk's of life. Training is a priority in this flotilla. We meet four times a month with only one meeting being business and the other three being training. Now that our station went to "Operational Status" as of 5 May 2009, we will be underway every Saturday & Sunday, training dock side & underway, being ready for any SAR's cases that may arise at any time. We are located at the USCG station in the Navy Point marina. We, as you know, will be hosting the Division Spring Training event in Sackets Harbor June 5, 6 & 7, 2009, and we are working very hard with the division SO's to try to make this event a success as well as a memorable experience. Ray Walty, Flotilla Commander 092-01-02 FC Ray Walty and IPFC Peggy Morgia FC Walty and FSO-PE Joe Wargo
Where Are You Headed? Bob Laurer DCDR-01 Greetings, where are you headed is a question we should frequently ask ourselves relative to our Auxiliary Careers. Are you energized and involved with the Auxiliary Business? Perhaps you have hit a career crossroads and the Auxiliary has lost some of its luster to you. The path forward is easy; you have to go back to your Auxiliary roots. Favorite for me when I first started out were the boat shows. I loved them. I could not wait to get to the show and have fun with all our boating customers. At the show you connect with your flotilla mates, other dealers and vendors and law enforcement agencies from all over. I recently worked the Clayton boat show with members from around the Division. It was a great release for me to be freed from the administrative things that fill my daily Auxiliary life. I am planning this year to ramp up my Vessel Examination activity and do more dealer visits. I also picked up the job as Publications Officer for Flotilla 1-6. I love to write and publications at the local level keep me in the game. The above items will give my Auxiliary career the width and depth I need and help me keep moving forward. I suggest to all of you that are not occupied with some facet of Auxiliary Activity to step up and get re-involved in the cornerstones. Lead a project or event, teach or assist a public education event, do some VE s, watch stand or perhaps crew a patrol. Once you get involved you will re-discover your reasons for joining in the first place and get you back on track. See you at the Boat Show!